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Writer/reporter salary
Average writer/reporter salary
$58,119
Average Writer/Reporter Salary
The average salary for a writer/reporter in the United States is around $58,119 per year, equating to approximately $28 per hour. This figure reflects a range of factors, including experience, geographic location, and industry specialization. Writers and reporters in metropolitan areas often see higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living adjustments.
Salary Variation by State
Salary levels can differ significantly across states. For instance, writers in California and New York typically command higher wages compared to those in less populous states. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their compensation.
Highest Paying Cities for Writers/Reporters
Some of the highest-paying cities include San Francisco, New York City, and Washington D.C., where salaries can exceed the national average. This emphasizes the importance of location in career planning. Additionally, factors such as industry focus, whether in journalism, technical writing, or content creation, can also impact salaries.
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Where can a Writer/Reporter earn more?
Average writer/reporter salary by state
The highest-paying states for writer/reporters are New Jersey, Washington, and Vermont. The lowest average writer/reporter salary states are Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for writer/reporters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $77,544 | $37.28 |
| 2 | Vermont | $72,514 | $34.86 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $76,261 | $36.66 |
| 4 | Washington | $73,433 | $35.30 |
| 5 | New York | $69,616 | $33.47 |
| 6 | Maryland | $68,934 | $33.14 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $65,765 | $31.62 |
| 8 | Michigan | $69,145 | $33.24 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $64,968 | $31.23 |
| 10 | Illinois | $64,958 | $31.23 |
| 11 | Maine | $71,689 | $34.47 |
| 12 | Delaware | $65,117 | $31.31 |
| 13 | Missouri | $64,093 | $30.81 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $64,629 | $31.07 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $67,983 | $32.68 |
| 16 | Ohio | $65,629 | $31.55 |
| 17 | Nevada | $59,208 | $28.47 |
| 18 | Virginia | $60,713 | $29.19 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $62,581 | $30.09 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $58,926 | $28.33 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 22 | Oregon | $57,823 | $27.80 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $59,323 | $28.52 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $57,337 | $27.57 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $57,837 | $27.81 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $55,818 | $26.84 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $52,508 | $25.24 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| 29 | Iowa | $56,208 | $27.02 |
| 30 | Utah | $52,878 | $25.42 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $54,888 | $26.39 |
| 32 | Alaska | $53,730 | $25.83 |
| 33 | California | $53,856 | $25.89 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $53,922 | $25.92 |
| 36 | Idaho | $51,916 | $24.96 |
| 37 | Indiana | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $52,582 | $25.28 |
| 39 | Georgia | $52,954 | $25.46 |
| 40 | Arizona | $52,236 | $25.11 |
| 41 | Montana | $50,511 | $24.28 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $52,523 | $25.25 |
| 43 | Texas | $49,902 | $23.99 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,999 | $24.04 |
| 45 | Kansas | $50,756 | $24.40 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $49,916 | $24.00 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $33,575 | $16.14 |
| 48 | Alabama | $49,887 | $23.98 |
| 49 | Florida | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $47,250 | $22.72 |
Highest paying cities for writer/reporters
The highest-paying cities for writer/reporters are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Bethesda, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,523 | $37.27 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $69,759 | $33.54 |
| 3 | Bethesda, MD | $68,840 | $33.10 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,778 | $31.62 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $65,329 | $31.41 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $61,722 | $29.67 |
| 8 | Charlotte, NC | $56,764 | $27.29 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,169 | $25.08 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $50,003 | $24.04 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $33,613 | $16.16 |
Writer/reporter salary details
A writer/reporter's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a writer/reporter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| Average | $58,119 | $4,843 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying writer/reporter jobs
The highest paying types of writer/reporters are sports anchor, sports reporter, and correspondent.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | $70,715 | $5,893 | $34.00 | 2,986 |
| Video Journalist | $68,280 | $5,690 | $32.83 | 7,141 |
| Journalist | $60,828 | $5,069 | $29.24 | 11,488 |
| Correspondent | $82,217 | $6,851 | $39.53 | 2,835 |
| Sports Anchor | $96,351 | $8,029 | $46.32 | 2,108 |
| Sports Internship | $30,137 | $2,511 | $14.49 | 48,236 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for writer/reporters, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.
Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, University of Nevada - Reno
Top companies hiring writer/reporters now:
Which companies pay writer/reporters the most?
Writer/reporter salaries at Goldbelt Falcon and TEKsystems are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average writer/reporter salary at companies like *n/a* and Future are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldbelt Falcon | $67,540 | $32.47 |
| 2 | TEKsystems | $65,895 | $31.68 |
| 3 | *n/a* | $62,859 | $30.22 |
| 4 | Future | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| 5 | SAIC | $55,485 | $26.68 |
| 6 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $51,266 | $24.65 |
| 7 | POLITICO | $49,556 | $23.82 |
| 8 | New York Post | $39,925 | $19.19 |
| 9 | Newsweek | $37,467 | $18.01 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Writer/reporter salary trends
The average writer/reporter salary has risen by $12,029 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average writer/reporter earned $46,090 annually, but today, they earn $58,119 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for writer/reporters over the last decade.
Compare writer/reporter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average writer/reporter salary over time
Compare writer/reporter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Writer/reporter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,100 | $27.94 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $56,100 | $26.99 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $54,500 | $26.22 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $52,000 | $25.02 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | $50,000 | $24.03 | +3.9% |
Recently added writer/reporter salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose International | Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) Writer Opening #484720 | New Castle, DE | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| Goldbelt Incorporated | Lims Administrator/Crystal Reports Writer | Noma, FL | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| Getsports Enterprises | High School Football Writer/Reporter | Cincinnati, OH | 06/10/2025 | $31,305 |
| Memorial Hermann Health System | Writer-Reporter, Society & Culture | Los Angeles, CA | 05/24/2025 | $68,640 |
| Getsports Enterprises | High School Football Writer/Reporter | Cincinnati, OH | 04/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Motion Recruitment Partners | Newsroom Writer/Reporter/Contract/Remote | San Francisco, CA | 03/28/2025 | $119,648 |
| Getsports Enterprises | High School Football Writer/Reporter | Cincinnati, OH | 03/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| KTSF | Cantonese Speaking TV Reporters and Writers | Brisbane, CA | 02/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Getsports Enterprises | High School Football Writer/Reporter | Cincinnati, OH | 02/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Goldbelt Inc. | Crystal Reports Writer | Aberdeen, MD | 02/17/2025 | $80,000 |
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